Article summary
Abstract
Primary education is the foundation of educational and social progress of any nation. In a devel- oping country like India, continuous efforts have been made to make primary education accessible, qualitative and inclusive, but in the modern context, this education is facing many complex prob- lems. Despite the implementation of the Right to Education Act, teaching quality, lack of resources, non-availability of trained teachers, high attrition of students and socio-economic disparities are still major impediments. One of the major reasons for the decline in the quality of education is the lack of trained and dedicated teachers. The situation is even more serious in rural and tribal areas where educa- tional infrastructure is incomplete or dilapidated. Despite the spread of digital education, the problem of digital divide is also depriving poor and rural students of education. This gap has deepened after the Covid-19 pandemic. Child labour, gender-based discrimination and lack of education awareness among minority communities also affect primary education. Despite government efforts such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, these challenges have not been addressed at the desired level. Today, there is a need to make primary education qualitative, participatory and practical, and not just limited to enrolment data. Making teacher training practical and innovative, making technical re- sources inclusive and ensuring active participation of the community has become very essential in the present context. The paper will analyse the various dimensions of these problems and propose suitable solutions so as to provide a robust, equitable and inclusive form of primary education.